A Distant Music

B. J. Hoff
Harvest House Publishers (2006)
ISBN 9780736914048
Reviewed by Kim Peterson for Reader Views (9/06)

In Skingle Creek, Kentucky, hope feels nonexistent for residents of this typical 1892 coal mining town. Gifted teacher, Jonathan Stuart, brings unexpected beauty to their coal-dust covered lives with his storytelling and music. Then, someone steals Jonathan’s flute and with it the ailing teacher’s will to keep going. Most of his students come from mining families who barely eke out a living, yet, surely none of them would take his music from him. The possibility of someone he knows being involved in the theft adds to his grief.

Twelve-year-old Maggie MacAuley notices the frailness and sadness of her teacher and wonders how she can help. She collaborates with her best friend, Summer, and enlists the aid of her fellow students to raise the money to replace Mr. Stuart’s flute. But in a town where survival has become the main focus, the girls experience difficulty motivating the town’s people to pull together. Kindness and concern for others matter to them, but those emotions lie buried under their struggle just to survive.

Maggie hates to see her neighbors suffer and she wrestles with her own troubles. The hardships Maggie faces—Summer’s illness, the teacher’s weakness, two malicious bullies, and a needy family—drain her hope and her faith. Maggie puzzles on how God can know the needs of these people and seem to do nothing about healing or providing for His children. She tries to comfort Summer, but her friend often encourages Maggie instead. Then God uses Maggie, Summer, and the other children of Skingle Creek to impart a miracle. He touches the hearts of a few good men, including Maggie’s father. Through the children’s efforts, God reminds these men that loving and caring for others is part of His greatest commandment.

Hoff’s touching story in “The Mountain Song Legacy” series will appeal to teens and adults. Although the tale in “A Distant Music” takes place more than a hundred years ago, readers will relate to the power of friendship and goodness when life beats you down. Reading about Maggie and her family reminded me that God often works in unexpected ways. Faith, hope and love really do overcome difficulties and even tragedy.

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